Prevention of Doxorubicin Cardiopathic Changes by a Benzyl Styryl Sulfone in Mice

Cardiac toxicity is a major limitation in the use of doxorubicin (and related anthracyclins). ON 1910.Na (Estybon, Rogersitib, or 1910), a substituted benzyl styryl sulfone, is equally active as doxorubicin against MCF-7 human mammary carcinoma xenografted into nude mice. 1910 augments the antitumor activity of doxorubicin when given simultaneously. Furthermore, when given in combination, 1910 protects against cardiac weight loss and against morphological damage to cardiac tissues. Doxorubicin induces inactivation of glucose response protein 78 (GRP78), a principal chaperone that serves as the master regulator of the unfolded protein response (UPR). Inactivated GRP78 leads to an increase in misfolded proteins, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, activation of UPR sensors, and increased CHOP expression. 1910 prevents the inactivation of GRP78 by doxorubicin, and the combination, while more active against the tumor, protects against cardiac weight loss.